Double amputee protester ‘pepper-sprayed by cops who also tried taking his prosthetics’ at Columbus demonstration

A VIOLENT clash between cops and protesters has led to a double amputee being pepper-sprayed while cops allegedly tried to remove his prosthetic legs. Reports claim the young man, who was peaceful and unarmed, was blasted in the face with pepper spray by cops at a rally in Ohio on Sunday. The officers reportedly removed […]

A VIOLENT clash between cops and protesters has led to a double amputee being pepper-sprayed while cops allegedly tried to remove his prosthetic legs.

Reports claim the young man, who was peaceful and unarmed, was blasted in the face with pepper spray by cops at a rally in Ohio on Sunday.

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A double-amputee protester was pepper-sprayed and allegedly had his prosthetic legs removed by cops on Sunday at a demonstration in Ohio[/caption]

The officers reportedly removed the man’s prosthetic legs, forcing him to crawl on his hands to get medical help, while other demonstrators pressed cops to return his legs, according to TMZ.

Video shared on Twitter of the Sunday afternoon rally showed Columbus cops attempting to ram their bicycles through a group of protesters who formed a blockade in the middle of an intersection.

Screams can be heard as officers are seen trying to force their way through the human wall.

Moments later, two officers being to blast the defiant demonstrators with pepper spray including the person filming the footage, WCMH reporter Eric Halperin.

The officers’ actions directly contradicted Mayor Andrew Ginther’s statement from earlier in the week, in which he said police could deal with violent protesters but must respect peaceful ones.

“Those on the other side who are truly peaceful, who are truly non-violent, who are truly non-aggressive need to have the space and deserve to have the space to exercise their First Amendment rights, and we should embrace that,” Ginther said in a statement sent to WBNS by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein on Friday.

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The largely peaceful protests in Columbus became violent after several hours on Sunday afternoon[/caption]

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Cops appeared to forcefully remove protesters from an intersection near the Statehouse, along High Street[/caption]

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Demonstrators have gathered for several weeks to rally in downtown Columbus near the Statehouse[/caption]

The mayor and city council banned the use of tear gas and limited police use of pepper spray days before Sunday’s rally on June 16, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

After several hours of peaceful demonstrations, the protests quickly turned chaotic Sunday afternoon when police started to break up a group of protesters who barricaded the middle of the intersection near the Statehouse on High Street.

Officers used their bikes and bare hands to shove the wooden signs protesters held up, according to WCMH.

Ginther seemingly justified cops’ use of mace and pepper spray on demonstrators, saying that the response was “appropriate”.

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Demonstrators peacefully protested against racism in downtown Columbus for several hours on Sunday[/caption]

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Sheriff’s deputies attempt to erase graffiti from a building pillar as protesters hold up Black Lives Matter signs[/caption]

He claimed officers were “met with violence” as police tried to clear the streets, which prompted cops to use pepper spray on them.

“I will reiterate again that we respect and encourage peaceful protest, but aggressive acts that put police and protesters in danger cannot be tolerated,” he added in a follow-up tweet.

Officials with the Columbus Police Department told TMZ they’re investigating the incident.

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The mayor of Columbus claimed officers were “met with violence” as police tried to clear the streets, which prompted cops to use pepper spray on them[/caption]